The Benson-KMS girls tennis team kept its perfect season alive with a pair of conference wins last week. Benson, now 9-0 overall and 2-0 in the WCC, edged Melrose Area in a home match last Tuesday night and then traveled to Sauk Centre, Thursday, beating the Mainstreeters 5-2.

This week will be another big test for the team as Benson was set to host MACCRAY, Tuesday (yesterday) followed by a match at the league favorites, Minnewaska Area, Thursday (tomorrow).

All 11 players that have seen action this year for Benson have winning records, including Grade Ricard (9-0), Olivia Hoffman (9-0), Sophia Curriel (5-0), and Gracie Lenz (4-0), who are all undefeated.

The Benson-KMS girls tennis program has six WCC titles under its belt in 1994, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010, and has also qualified to state three times in 2006, 2008, and 2009....

The Benson football team opened up the season with a 49-0 loss to Eden Valley-Watkins, Friday night on Brock Field. The Braves ran 59 plays compared to 37 for EVW, and also had nine first downs compared to eight for the Eagles.

However, EVW gained over 10 yards per offensive play from scrimmage and held the Braves to just 125 total yards on the way to the lopsided win.

“We knew they’d be very good, especially at the specialty positions, and their line play was very good as well,” Benson head coach Scott Gonnerman said. “Most of their players on the line had one year of experience from last season. They weren’t as big (heavy) as we were on the line, but they were very athletic and moved well, and they did a very good job of controlling the line of scrimmage on offense and defense.”

The Benson-KMS boys and girls cross-country teams opened up the 2016 season at the Morris Area Invitational last Monday night at the Pomme de Terre Golf Course in Morris.

The boys team finished 10th in a meet won by West Central Area, while the Benson-KMS girls did not field a complete team during the race won by Lac qui Parle/Dawson-Boyd.

The Benson-KMS teams were also set to compete at the LQP Invitational, Thursday, but results of that meet were not available by presstime.

Next up for the teams is the Long Prairie-GE Invitational, set for Monday, Sept. 12....

The Benson-KMS cross-country teams competed at the Morris Area-CA Invitational last Monday at the Pomme de Terre Golf Club in Morris, but both teams are struggling with early-season injuries and Fair commitments.

Timothy P. Wyatt, age 60, of Benson, died on Wednesday, September 7, at his home in Benson. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 15, at 1:30 p.m., at the Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Benson. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in the Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Zniewski Funeral Home of Benson is in charge of the arrangements.

The peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: “Our country - when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right.” -- Carl Schurz, Civil War General

“With liberty and justice for all,” are the last words of the Pledge of Allegiance. But what when happens when liberty and justice are unequal? What happens when you are a member of a minority that is persistently, systematically discriminated against?

What happens when you are parents who have to fear for the lives of your children when they leave the home, not because of what a criminal might do, but because of what law enforcement might do?

Harrison “QBall” D. Price, 78, passed away on September 4, 2016. He was born in Vernon, TX. He proudly served and retired as a Chief from the US Navy after 20 years of service and also retired from Civil Service after 20 years of service in the Utilities Department. He loved to hunt, play golf and go camping with his family. "Every day is a holiday."

With the help of $103,938 in new state funding, Benson Public Schools is offering free preschool for all four-year-olds in the district.

Coming into the 2016-2017 school year, Benson Public Schools had one section of full-day four-year-old classes and one half-day section for four-year-olds. But it could not afford to accommodate all those children whose parents would have like to see their children enrolled in a preschool class.

However, the new state funding has made it possible for all four-year-olds to be enrolled. “It is a great thing for our community,” Supt. Dennis Laumeyer said. “We are excited to offer that to all our four-year-olds.” The school district is also hoping that be being able to offer free pre-school to all four-year-olds, it will capture those children and their families for the whole preschool to graduation journey.

Monday, August 29 was the first day of the 2016-2017 school year in Benson.

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Pictured, top: David Hafvenstein gives his son John a final hug on the first day of school at Northside Elementary.

Bottom: Ayanna Poitra poses in front of lockers for a “first day of school” picture.

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The Benson volleyball team was set to open up the season Monday, Aug. 29 at KMS, followed by a match at BOLD, Thursday, Sept. 1, and a home match with Morris Area-CA, Tuesday, Sept. 6, which is the first of seven-straight Tuesday nights the Braves have scheduled at home.

“We have approximately 45 girls out for 9-12 volleyball, and practices are going well,” Schmidt said. “With only two nets in the main gym to practice (auxiliary gym is being worked on), we have been staggering the practice times, which means the coaches are in the gym for 10-plus hour a day.”